Please Contact Your Local Government! 

On Tuesday, September 1, the local carry provision of the new Tennessee park carry law goes into effect.  This law enables law-abiding Right-to-Carry permit holders to carry a firearm for self-defense in state and local parks.  The state park component of this bill went into effect on June 12, but the effective date for local parks was delayed until September 1 to give local municipalities time to study the issue.  This important provision allows Right-to-Carry permit holders to carry handguns for self-defense within the boundaries of their local parks.

Local government bodies have had more then two months to study the issue and were given the opportunity to opt out of the law prior to its effective date.  While a majority of Tennessee localities chose not to restrict permit holders, a few voted to opt out of by passing ordinances and resolutions that ban the possession of firearms in local parks, creating arbitrary boundaries that prohibit law-abiding permit holders from protecting themselves. 

Thank you to all of the NRA members who spoke out in support of this critical self-defense measure.  Without your activism, this monumental victory would not have been possible. 

Please note that some localities may still take steps to opt out of this provision even after the effective date.  In an effort to protect your right to self-defense, please contact your local officials immediately and respectfully continue to urge them to oppose any proposal or resolution that would prohibit law-abiding permit holders from protecting themselves in local parks.

The following counties and municipalities have voted to opt out of this important self-defense legislation.  However, please be sure to check with your local government to ensure that carrying in your local park has not been prohibited.   

COUNTIES
Davidson County
Decatur County
Dyer County
Hamilton County
Henry County
Knox County
McNairy County
Putnam County
Shelby County
Washington County
Williamson County

CITIES/TOWNS
Alcoa
Arlington
Athens
Brentwood
Bristol
Charlotte
Chattanooga
Clarksville
Clinton
Cookeville
Covington
Dyersburg
Etowah
Erin
Fayetteville
Franklin
Gatlinburg
Germantown
Goodlettsville
Hendersonville
Jasper
Johnson City
Jonesborough
Knoxville (will consider removing ban on 9/3)
Lebanon
Lexington
Lookout Mountain
Madisonville
Manchester
Martin
Maryville
McKenzie
Medina
Memphis
Murfreesboro
Nashville
Oak Ridge
Paris
Pigeon Forge
Selmer
Signal Mountain
Shelbyville
Spencer
Springfield
Tiptonville
Trenton
Thompson’s Station
Vonore
White Bluff
Winchester

If you have any further information on Tennessee counties and municipalities that have opted out OR are taking steps to opt out of this important self-defense law, please contact NRA-ILA’s State and Local Affairs Division. Contact information is provided below.

Email: [email protected]
Phone (703) 267-1204
Fax: (703) 267-3976

NRA-ILA, State & Local Affairs
c/o Heidi Keesling or Krista Cupp
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030

Please continue to visit www.NRAILA.org for further updates.